ICES accepts record number of summer interns for 2013

When Christopher Lynn arrived at ICES he recounts being a little nervous. The Swarthmore College senior, a double major in math and physics, had some experience in computational science; He helped create simulations of galaxy collisions. But as a summer intern at ICES he was working in a new lab and researching a new topic: internal friction in polymers. Studying these molecular interactions was very different than the galactic size simulations he knew from before.

He tinkered with the simulation software and read up on theory behind modeling polymers. A week later Dmitrii Makarov, a professor at ICES Center for Computational Molecular Science who was overseeing Lynn’s internship, asked Lynn to literally show him everything he knew about the topic.

“Before I could grab a chair, I was told to grab a piece of chalk, go to the board and show them everything that I had learned,” said Lynn. The experience sparked in Lynn a dedication to the research and started off an invaluable intern experience.

“Through the remainder of the internship I developed a great relationship with [Marakov]…and the students I worked with,” said Lynn. “It was one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences of my life, not to mention a great time.”

Lynn was one of the two interns that spent their 2012 summers doing research at ICES. The program, founded in 2009, enables interns to earn a summer stipend for working alongside ICES researchers, post-doctorates and graduate students at one of ICES 17 centers or groups.

No direct experience in computational science is required to apply, and even those with some prior experience can leave the program with a greater appreciation for what the technology can enable.

“Prior to my internship, I thought computational science was a nice trick that allowed scientists to try things that they wouldn’t be able to do in real life,” said Lynn. “…but through the internship I realized that this trick fills the gap between theory and experimentation. Computational science allows us to test theories and decide which experiments are worth carrying out.”

This summer, ICES is welcoming eight undergraduates, the largest group of interns the institute has ever hosted, from universities across the country, as well as some seasoned UT locals. Lynn’s advice to interns is to jump into all the institute, UT and the city of Austin have to offer.

“I can say with confidence that Austin was my favorite place that I have ever lived,” said Lynn. “If you apply yourself to the work and make an effort to go out and meet people in Austin, you won’t have any regrets.”

Learn more about the ICES internship program and opportunities here.

Check back in October for the summer 2014 internship application and information.

Photo: ICES 2012 summer interns (from left to right): Christopher Lynn and Thomas Kelleher